Big block or small block?

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The forums here are littered with engine issues, but here are a few recent and randomly selected SBF engines that have had issues:

Ford Racing 427 burning oil

Ford Racing 427w tuning problem

Dissapointing year end with my Roush 427R

Cam Lobe Pictures, Need Analysis Help

Putting aside engines that have bad parts and/or bad combinations and/or bad assembly and/or poor installations, I'm going to guess that as a percentage, SBF's have about the amount of issues as BBF's. At least it's closer than most folks think.

I know your just another newbie here but over the last twenty + years it has been pretty much established that car show guys and guys who like to do burnouts prefer FE's and guys who road race prefer small blocks. Has nothing to do with which is better or which is more powerful.
However if your ultimate goal is to be the quickest guy on a road course then a lightly used 358 ci Cup motor makes around 750-800 HP and will spin to 8,500 without breaking a sweat.
You can buy one right now from Roush/Yates performance for about $15,000 complete and nobody is going to pass you on any road course.
Of course you won't be winning any car show trophy's either.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

I know your just another newbie here but over the last twenty + years it has been pretty much established that car show guys and guys who like to do burnouts prefer FE's and guys who road race prefer small blocks.

The discussion the "newbie's" were having, prior to your posting and insult, was about leaks and reliability, not about who runs the road courses better, garners more car show trophies or who can do the best burnouts.

I'm fairly sure that both small blocks and big blocks can do all three (road courses, trophies and burnouts) quite adequately for 99.99% of us newbies as well as the old folks around here at CC.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

The discussion the "newbie's" were having, prior to your posting and insult, was about leaks and reliability, not about who runs the road courses better, garners more car show trophies or who can do the best burnouts.

I'm fairly sure that both small blocks and big blocks can do all three (road courses, trophies and burnouts) quite adequately for 99.99% of us newbies as well as the old folks around here at CC.

If you think I insulted you then I apologize but when I first got interested in Cobras I was a newbie and I also thought the 427FE was the end all in racing engines. My first engine was in fact a SO 427 so I know a little bit about them I also know they are highly prized today and they are better suited to show/street Cobras.
Once you spend some time around the Cobra scene you find out what real experts prefer in racing Cobras. Bob Bondaurant was one of the first to say that the 351 Windsor was a better balanced Cobra for racing.
When Shelby introduced their spec racing Cobra a few years back it was a 427 body with a 351 Windsor so those guys know something about how to make a well balanced race car.
Now if I was in the market for a street Cobra my choice would be a FE powered Kirkham so I am not anti FE.
So lighten up a little nobody is dissing your car or engine choice.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

Now if I was in the market for a street Cobra my choice would be a FE powered Kirkham so I am not anti FE.
So lighten up a little nobody is dissing your car or engine choice.

Ahhhh... A man with taste and perspective

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

...but over the last twenty + years it has been pretty much established that car show guys and guys who like to do burnouts prefer FE's and guys who road race prefer small blocks.

Cup motors are cool. Although I largely agree there are notable exceptions-as you know.
Don Durner, Morris and CSX 3170 are FE road warriors.
Rodameister terrorized with a small block.

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Cup motors are cool. Although I largely agree there are notable exceptions-as you know.
Don Durner, Morris and CSX 3170 are FE road warriors.
Rodameister terrorized with a small block.

I did the open track Club Cranky traveling road show with Don Durner and Joe Rodomista along with Hank Dondero, Terry Shank and Mustang driver John Mc Mahon. Yes Don was an exception with his FE but Don was a pretty good driver as well as Joe, Hank and Terry in Small block Cobras. We were the only group to get uninvited to a track event run by a certain brand of replica.
Those were the good olde days.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by RACER X #99

I know your just another newbie here but over the last twenty + years it has been pretty much established that... ...nobody is going to pass you on any road course.

Oh dear...!
It sounds like you've might not have learnt much in 20+ years...
Tyres (or tires) & aero dynamics will do more to win you races than engines


I'd hazzard a guess that a 4-cyl clubman or lotus with about 300hp would run away from your 800hp sb cobra on just about any track

All things being eqaul an FE in a cobra is a better "replica" unless it's a 289 or FIA. That said, I'm not advocating that a FE is a better engine, but I know that given the choice - I'd go FE.

The SB crowd make me laugh, they're so hypocritical. They're the first to slag off the BB guys, justyfing their choice by claiming it's lighter, faster, better. Yet are up in arms when you tell them there's a chevy (Toyota, or other) under the hood. I got news for those clowns - If it ain't FE, it's the wrong recipe. So you may as well go ls7, lsx, or ford mod motors or even european motors and at least "replicate" Shelby's concept of auto-evolution.

Now the problem with that, is technology advances and then you left wondering! Go FE if you can and never look back, it's what belongs in a 427 SC if you want to "replicate" the car properly!



PIN PULLED

[RACER X #99]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Oh dear...!
It sounds like you've might not have learnt much in 20+ years...
Tyres (or tires) & aero dynamics will do more to win you races than engines


I'd hazzard a guess that a 4-cyl clubman or lotus with about 300hp would run away from your 800hp sb cobra on just about any track

All things being eqaul an FE in a cobra is a better "replica" unless it's a 289 or FIA. That said, I'm not advocating that a FE is a better engine, but I know that given the choice - I'd go FE.

The SB crowd make me laugh, they're so hypocritical. They're the first to slag off the BB guys, justyfing their choice by claiming it's lighter, faster, better. Yet are up in arms when you tell them there's a chevy (Toyota, or other) under the hood. I got news for those clowns - If it ain't FE, it's the wrong recipe. So you may as well go ls7, lsx, or ford mod motors or even european motors and at least "replicate" Shelby's concept of auto-evolution.

Now the problem with that, is technology advances and then you left wondering! Go FE if you can and never look back, it's what belongs in a 427 SC if you want to "replicate" the car properly!



PIN PULLED

Tell me about the Lotus Ive been on the track with those Catterhams.